Sen. Jo Comerford

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the amount hospitals and health systems can charge for facility fees, which are separate charges for using hospital space and equipment during outpatient visits. Specifically, it caps these fees at $30 per patient visit for services provided off-site from a hospital campus and for uninsured patients receiving care outside of an emergency department. The law also requires healthcare providers to inform patients about the specific facility fees they will owe before scheduling appointments and mandates a study to compare costs between hospital outpatient departments and non-hospital settings. Hospitals currently under contracts that offer full reimbursement for higher fees are allowed to continue collecting those amounts until the contracts expire. Violations of the fee cap are classified as unfair trade practices under state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows new state employees in Massachusetts to receive health insurance coverage starting on their first day of work, rather than waiting for a standard waiting period. It applies to all state employers who offer health benefits through the state's group insurance commission. To make this change official, the commission must work with finance officials to create and enforce new rules that put this immediate coverage into practice.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts insurance laws to require health plans to provide clearer information about prescription drug formularies and costs. It mandates that plans explain what a formulary is, list all drug management rules like prior authorizations, and display specific co-pay amounts or cost ranges for different tiers of coverage. Additionally, the law requires plans to update their online drug lists within 72 hours of any changes and to use a standardized template for displaying this information. These provisions apply to policies issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2018, directly affecting insurance companies and their enrollees.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to expand health insurance coverage for specific therapies addressing cognitive deficits caused by acquired brain injuries. It directly affects individuals suffering from conditions such as strokes or traumatic brain injuries by defining key treatment types like cognitive rehabilitation and neurobehavioral therapy. The legislation establishes clear definitions for these services to ensure they are recognized as medically necessary under existing insurance frameworks. Additionally, it includes provisions for community reintegration services aimed at helping patients safely return to work, school, and independent living.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to create a new state system called the Massachusetts Health Care Trust to provide universal health coverage for all residents. It establishes a Board of Trustees and an Executive Director to manage the program, which is designed to offer affordable and equitable access to medical services for everyone in the Commonwealth. The legislation amends existing state laws to add this new chapter, effectively replacing or supplementing the current insurance model with a single-payer approach.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation counseling and related information. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries who need help quitting tobacco use and the healthcare providers who deliver these services. The key provision expands the definition of covered counseling to include individual, group, and phone sessions offered by a wide range of qualified professionals, such as physicians, dentists, and behavioral health counselors. By ensuring these services are paid for by Medicaid, the legislation aims to increase access to tobacco cessation support for low-income residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state law to prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against hospitals and pharmacies that participate in the federal 340B drug discount program. It specifically forbids insurers from charging these entities lower reimbursement rates, imposing unique fees or audit requirements, or restricting their network participation solely because they dispense discounted drugs. The legislation aims to ensure that 340B-covered entities are treated the same as other pharmacies regarding insurance claims, fees, and contractual terms. By banning these specific practices, the bill seeks to protect the financial stability of safety-net providers that rely on these federal discounts to offer affordable care.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that community health centers in Massachusetts be reimbursed using a specific payment method known as a prospective payment system. The law mandates that this reimbursement approach aligns with federal guidelines established in the United States Code as of January 1, 2023. By updating state statutes, the bill ensures that insurers and other payers follow this standardized calculation for services provided by these federally qualified health centers. The change directly affects how these healthcare facilities are paid for patient care and aims to create consistency between state and federal payment rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits insurance companies and other payers from discriminating against healthcare facilities that participate in the federal 340B drug discount program. It requires payers to reimburse these facilities and their contract pharmacies at the same rate they would pay any other pharmacy, preventing lower payments, extra fees, or different audit requirements based on the facility's status. The legislation also bans payers from imposing conditions that steer patients away from receiving discounted drugs at these facilities. By amending state laws, the bill aims to ensure that organizations serving vulnerable populations can maintain access to affordable medications without facing financial penalties or administrative barriers.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill requires health insurance plans to cover full spectrum pregnancy care without deductibles, copayments, or other cost-sharing fees. It applies to most state-regulated plans but allows insurers to charge fees if doing so would cause them to lose their federal tax-exempt status. The legislation also mandates that insurance companies cannot impose unreasonable restrictions or delays on accessing these services. State regulators are tasked with ensuring that all health plans comply with these new coverage requirements.